Here Are Your Winners: 2012 PlayStation.Blog Game of the Year Awards

The polls are closed and the votes have been tallied. Read on for the full list of PlayStation.Blog Game of the Year Awards winners as chosen by you, plus a few Editors’ Choice picks from the extended PlayStation.Blog team.

I want to thank each and every one of you for voting, debating, and commenting on our first annual awards! As predicted, the process wasn’t entirely without its hiccups, but in general I think it was a pretty good first attempt. That said, we absolutely want your feedback on next year’s awards, which will be bigger and better in many ways. Please provide your feedback in the comments – we’ll be referring to it in preparation for next year!

This one was a squeaker, but Ubisoft Montreal’s period epic inched past a strong showing by Gearbox Software’s well-received shooter. FIFA 13 Soccer landed the most write-in votes, but not enough to place in the winner’s circle.

Dishonored – “In my book, this was the smartest, most distinctive FPS of the year, shoehorning adult themes, nuanced characters and sophisticated gameplay mechanics into a wincingly visceral campaign. Oh, and it was great to see so many primary colors too! Sequel please!”

– Fred Dutton, Manager, EU PlayStation.Blog

Borderlands 2 – “Sequels don’t always manage to one-up their predecessors, but Borderlands 2 does just that — in nearly every conceivable way. From the vastly improved story, to the motley cast of characters, to the massive volume of guns, Gearbox has planted their foot firmly in the ground as one of this generation’s premier FPS developers.”

– Justin Massongill, US PlayStation.Blog

XCOM: Enemy Unknown – “This game scratched an itch I didn’t know I had, weaving tense turn-based firefights into a shockingly addictive management simulation. This is a refreshing and utterly fascinating game with a surprise and a delight around every corner. Highly recommended.”

Thatgamecompany’s wildly original opus was always the favorite to win this category, though Telltale Games’ heartbreaking series The Walking Dead nearly overtook it in the final hours of voting. Queasy Games’ Sound Shapes took the most write-in votes.

Journey – “I’m going with the obvious choice here. Nothing else I played this year drew me in like thatgamecompany’s Journey. Despite the lack of communication and identity involved, I felt closer to my co-op partners in Journey than in anything else I’ve played this year… maybe ever. It’s an experience I wish I could wipe from my memory, just so I could have it for the first time again.”

– Justin Massongill, US PlayStation.Blog

Journey – “I won’t be alone in singling out thatgamecompany’s bewitching quest here. Some complained that it was too brief, but its three hours of playtime will surely live longer in the memory than almost any other release this year. This is joyful, uplifting, must-play material. And, no, there’s no shame in admitting its final moments set your bottom lip aquiver.”

– Fred Dutton, EU PlayStation.Blog

The Walking Dead: Episodes 1 – 5 – “Telltale’s memorable series starts small but slowly builds to towering emotional heights, culminating in what may be the greatest gaming moment of the year. This is a prime example of the narrative potential of videogames — don’t you dare miss it.”

The closest category in this year’s awards nearly ended in a three-way tie between Gravity Rush, Persona 4: Golden, and UNCHARTED: Golden Abyss. But in a photo finish, Bend Studios claims the Platinum prize. The most popular write-in vote was for Zero Escape: Virtue’s Last Reward, which is also available on PS Vita game card.

Gravity Rush – “Alternately careening and frolicing through the skies of Hekseville provided some of the most enjoyable, empowering moments in gaming this year for me. A lush world and loveable character wrapped around a set of mechanics that feels downright awesome in the palm of your hands.”

– Nick Suttner, PlayStation Blogcast co-host

Persona 4 Golden – “JRPGs have seen a relative lack of representation in this gaming generation. But now that Atlus has rebuilt one of PS2’s most highly regarded games for PS Vita, they’ve proven that a well-written, visually striking, character-driven RPG can still find an appreciative audience.”

– Justin Massongill, US PlayStation.Blog

PlayStation All-Stars Battle Royale – “A tough choice, but my voracious appetite for portable pugilism ultimately tipped the scales in favor of the All-Stars. SuperBot’s slavish attention to detail shines on the OLED screen and the characters feel intoxicatingly powerful, making this a perfect choice for mobile encounters.”

Frobisher Says! – “Not many games are silly. Yet Frobisher’s minigame madness is supremely silly in all the right ways, a ton of fun, kind of beautiful, and free, free, free as a bird. Whether I was finding flan, making a terrible din, or not smiling at pandas, it was some of the most fun I’ve had on PS Vita this year.”

– Nick Suttner, PlayStation Blogcast co-host

Sound Shapes – “Jonathan Mak’s unique approach to game design yields one of the biggest surprises of the year: A whimsical musical platformer that whisks you away on a magical tour of five imaginative worlds, leading inexorably to a momentous meeting with Beck.”

– Sid Shuman, US PlayStation.Blog

When Vikings Attack! – “Okay, maybe I’m biased, but I found When Vikings Attack!’s bonkers Britishness impossible to resist. If there was a more satisfying mechanic in gaming in 2013 than flinging a skip at a gang of Viking invaders, I certainly wasn’t privy to it. If you’re after a hidden gem to discover this Christmas, you could do a lot, lot worse.”

In a surprisingly tight race with several favorites jockeying for position, Super Crate Box’s accessible, addictive formula came out on top in the PS Mobile arena. The most popular write-in vote? Lemmings.

Rebel – “Super Crate Box is the easy choice, but with that well-trod I want to make sure that no one misses out on Rebel. A sort of anti-Crate Box that has you dodging falling weapons crates while turning enemies against each other, Rebel feels satisfying thanks to a brilliant reward loop of upgrades that turn time-waster into skillful navigator.”

– Nick Suttner, PlayStation Blogcast co-host

Super Crate Box – “This feels like the no-brainer of the group, though Bullion Blitz and Puzziball are definite gems. Simple but focused, Super Crate Box is one of those indefinable instant classics that you’ll understand the moment you lay hands on it. A sheer delight.”

– Sid Shuman, US PlayStation.Blog

Super Crate Box – “Believe it or not, I reckon I’ve played SCB more than any game in any category. Vlambeer’s bite-sized score-attack platformer was an ingenious confection, and nailed that just-one-more-game catchiness better than any other title this year.”

Another tight race, with Sixense’s Portal 2 expansion pack beating back a potent showing from PlayStation Move favorite Sorcery and close runners-up Wonderbook: Book of Spells and Sports Champions 2, while Okami HD claimed the most write-in votes.

Datura – “Probably the best example yet of how PS Move can open up new ways to interact. Navigating the dreamlike forests of Datura from a first-person perspective using PS Move brings a hypnotic surreal quality, as well as a more tactile interface. Really cool stuff.”

PixelJunk 4am – “Sure, it’s something of an acquired taste and plays best, as advertised, in the small hours after a night on the town, but Q-Game’s music plaything really got its hooks in me over the summer. If you like your digital entertainment arty, freeform and very, very bleepy, this one’s for you.”

Puppeteer – “A close call between this and BioShock, but my innate predisposition towards anything involving 2D visuals, running, and jumping won through. Japan Studios’ lovely platformer is a true feast for the senses, shot through with a delightfully dark sense of humor and A-grade character design. One to watch out for.”

– Fred Dutton, EU PlayStation.Blog

The Last of Us – “An agonizing decision, but (sorry BioShock Infinite) I’m putting my money on Naughty Dog. I’m drawn to the game’s suffocating atmosphere of hopelessness, but I’m also dying to learn more about the fragile relationship between innocent Ellie and world-weary Joel. Fingers crossed that Naughty Dog pulls off something extraordinary here.”

– Sid Shuman, US PlayStation.Blog

Sportsfriends – “If you’ve ever managed to catch one at a gaming event such as PAX, you know that Johann Sebastian Joust, Hokra, BaraBariBall and Super Pole Riders are already some of the best local multiplayer games EVER, even in their unreleased forms. Having all of them on PSN, upgraded and collected as Sportsfriends, is just too exciting for words. Get ready to Joust!”

Guacamelee! – “It’s been far too long since I got my hands on a unique exploration-based platformer. Guacamelee’s hyperactive art style and elbow-dropping personality promise to revitalize the genre popularized by games like Castlevania: Symphony of the Night.”

– Justin Massongill, US PlayStation.Blog

Soul Sacrifice – “Inafune’s dark fantasy promises to bring some serious emotional gravity to the co-op battlefields, such as tragic boss monsters that beg for mercy and an alarming array of life-or-death choices. I’m particularly drawn to the grim, almost grotesque art style.”

– Sid Shuman, US PlayStation.Blog

Tearaway – “Can’t wait. Expect wild innovation, free-wheeling creativity and charm in abundance. If you don’t covet a PS Vita now, just wait until this one lands on shelves.”

YES! The Last of Us won! Only 139 days until that masterpiece is released! I hopefully am getting a Vita for Christmas or enough money to buy one so Crossplay for LBP 2, Shadow of the Colossus, and more in the future will be sweet! Also I already have the option to download tons of free games since Plus is amazing. I’m excited to try Gravity Rush, LBP Vita, Uncharted Golden Abyss and Tearaway next year. I hope I can find that 1 Year PS+ Bundle, though.

I still am very hopeful for The Last Guardian also. I swear if we don’t get a release date or time by E3 2013 I think I’ll die.

Sad to see people complaining about game of the year winners (really?). Not everything I voted for won (I wanted Dark Souls II for most anticipated), but apparently people voted for what they did for a reason. The numbers don’t lie people…But nonetheless this was a pretty cool thing you guys did, and you know what would make it cooler? Sales and Discounts :)

Happy Holidays everyone and let’s hope we’re all still here on Dec.22!

Do these top write-ins for Most Anticipated games show we (typing as a PLayStation Plus member) have an interest in RPHs (in particular, for me anyway, JRPGs)?

And Journey deserves every good thing it gets. It saddens me that my sister tells me of her classmates with PS3s who, somehow, don’t even know what Journey is. Blasted retail and their bigger focus. Definitely get the digital lead out, Sony!

Assassin’s Creed 3 definitely was a squeaker, i.e., a fart. Apparently, gamers like the smell. I’m so disappointed in my fellows gamers for voting that piece of garbage as game of the year. I’m aggressive about how much I dislike AC3 to counter how much unwarranted praise it’s being given.

I agree with @10. I finally finished Golden Abyss last night, and it felt like a grind to me. It was a good game. But there was way too many touch screen/gyroscope uses that it became very annoying and not fun after a while. I personally was not a fan of Bend’s last game either, Resistance: Retribution.

Also: Asura’s Wrath. I still have trouble believing it came out this year (surprised me, seeing it in Game Informer’s Top 50). Man, Would’ve written that in, but I went with Spec Ops: The Line; I don’t play many FPSes, but the talk of its twist within its story compelled me to bump it up a vote.

I’m just so surprised and stunned by how Uncharted GA beating out P4G. I mean Uncharted GA was good but not best Vita game good. I think Persona 4 The Golden or at the least Gravity Rush deserved best Vita game.
After that I have no problem with the other awards except for the PS3 game of the year though. Since I’ve never played AC3 yet I can’t really say much, but I’m not sure if it’s game of the year material.

I hope that Japan after seeing how much we love P4G over here, that they localize more Vita JRPG games. I’m still waiting for Tales of Innocence R over here.

Let me guess: Next there will be posts saying SCEA must have rigged the poll and that’s why games like Uncharted and ACIII won.

I personally tend to agree with the Vita GOTY, but while I didn’t like ACIII that much, I agree with all the top 4, but I won’t resort to saying other people’s decision to vote for that is stupid. I can respect the results and won’t act like a 8 year old, which I guess it too much to handle for some people.

YEA!!! Oh My GOD!!!! This are, hands down and by far, the best games awards I’ve seen on 2012!!!! I really, really, really loved the whole Bronze, Silver, Gold and Platinum Trophy awards!!!!! I love you PSBlog!!! I love my PS3 and I LOVE everything SONY!!!! Kudos Team!!! Woot! Woot!!!! :D

The God of War Team would like to thank the PlayStation Academy for honoring us with the Silver in 2013-Most Anticipated. We will be looking to take the Platinum in PS3 Game of the Year next year, here we go!

I like this list, I don’t care if a game I don’t like is on here. I think we can all agree that the winners, whether or not they were our favorite games for that category, was a great game non the less!

Nice wins. But (always a but) for PS Vita Game of the Year. I’m a big fan of the Uncharted Series. However, I think Gravity Rush should of won. The game is so Different & Unique. & it utilizes the Vita’s Mechanics in so many ways. Also I do agree with The Last of Us as being The Most Anticipated PS3 Game. But I really don’t agree with
BioShock Infinite being that low on the list.

there is no way ac3 beat out borderlands 2 with the half-a** story and all the glitches and stupid problems in that game.. and how did a stupid game like sound shapes beat out a game like super stardust delta

i know last of us will be decent but im looking forward to bioshock more than anything

hope fully they can psn studio’s to the list… I think tink create as well as many deserve their praise inthe sun. I was kinda shocked persona 4 didnt win, but always next year i suppose.:).. Congrat to all.